West Point Police Working Leads on Saturday Internet Cafe Robbery

WEST POINT, Miss. (Staff Report)  — The West Point Police Department (WPPD) is on the hunt for an alleged armed robbery suspect.

The manager of the Internet Café on Main Street reported to police a man confronted her as she was closing the business Saturday night.  The man, according to the manager, demanded her purse.

According to a press release provided by the WPPD, the building’s alarm system had been activated, but the incident allegedly occurred while the manager was locking the front door from the outside.

The manager described the suspect “as a man wearing black pants, a black shirt and a black cap.”

Per the press release, the suspect then “snatched” the manager’s purse, which contained two “money bags.” The manager reported the man then fled west. Police were unable to locate the man.

The alleged burglar made off with an undisclosed amount of money. The manager’s purse was located behind a nearby business, but the money bags once inside were reportedly missing.

“Crooks are opportunistic and look for weaknesses in your business practices,” Police Chief Tim Brinkley said. “They know that at the end of the day most businesses coffers are full and that’s the best time to strike.”

Law enforcement is encouraging managers to request a police escort when closing down for the day to “deter this type of activity.”

“This is a service that is provided by the department without charge,” Brinkley said. “We need out businesses operating without fear of being robbed.”

A $1,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest in this case through Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers.